Connecticut Republicans tap restaurant owner Matt Corey to challenge Sen. Chris Murphy in a rematch

Matt Corey, a Connecticut entrepreneur who unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. House and Senate in the past, won the Republican nomination Tuesday to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy again, saying he believes voters are more receptive to his message.

Corey, whose victory in the primary came against Gerry Smith, the top elected official in the small town of Beacon Falls, said voters are fed up with high energy costs, inflation and job losses.

“It’s just affordability, job opportunities. It’s pretty much similar to what I ran last time,” he said in a phone interview. “And all the policies that are coming out of Washington and what Sen. Murphy is embracing, it’s not going to move Connecticut forward or any of these businesses forward.”

Corey, who bills himself as “the fighter (former President) Donald Trump needs by his side,” on his campaign signs, credited his win to hard work and strong volunteer support. Smith received the party’s endorsement at the state convention in May, but Corey got enough delegate support to run in the primary.